Real Welsh Spring Wedding: Llior & Will - Part 2

It's time for Part 2 of this lovely vintage 1920s themed wedding, and there's tonnes of stealworthy wedding ideas from the elegant reception at Soughton Hall in North Wales. With favours and food sourced from Llior's parents' farm, and tonnes of DIY wedding details, it's hugely inspirational. Llior designed her own wedding dress, made her own veil on the morning of her wedding, and hand stamped the seating plan and place names. A real labour of love! I'm loving all the wedding ideas, and I'm also slightly obsessed with Victoria Phipps Photography's incredible pictures. Don't miss Part 1, with more of Llior's helpful wedding hints.

We had tonnes of DIY projects. I designed my wedding dress, my veil, and the wedding stationery. I also (slightly painfully) sat up night after night using single stamp type letters to create the seating plan and place names. Plus I made the heart shaped clay favours that accompanied the luggage tag place names. Hours of fun!

My husband and I designed our wedding stationery. We chose a picture from our engagement shoot with Victoria Phipps in London {a picture of the sign Love Lane}. We also used the picture in a frame at the wedding, and it married in well with the London-sign table names.

For wedding favours, we had individual mini strawberry yogurt cheesecakes made with my parents' yogurt from their Welsh Dairy, called Llaeth y Llan or in English, Village Dairy. These bespoke favours were presented in glass jars with black screw tops, with a love note sign off.|

The wedding cake was glorious selection of Welsh cheeses and a beautiful three-tier lattice topped Welsh game pie. Our family is in the food trade, which is fantastic, because we know about all the best produce to buy for special events like weddings!

I really enjoyed planning our wedding. I feel there's a big space that needs filling in my life....I need another one to do!!

♥ Want more spring wedding ideas? ♥ Or how about vintage wedding ideas? ♥

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Cute Shabby-Chic Cake Toppers

In cakes as in fashion, there are trends for every season, and the fashionable cake this spring/summer will be mostly topped by lovebirds. It all stems from the eco-chic craze, and combines an emphasis on locally sourced products with economical, recycled materials. UK-based textile artist Cotton Bird Designs is right on trend with her gorgeous feathered friends, which she hand-stitches in her countryside studio. Take your pick from her flock, or request a custom design, with a ring pillow to match, and add a bundle of cute to your big day.

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Real Vintage Welsh Spring Wedding: Llior & Will

Vintage-loving brides are going to adore this beautiful Welsh wedding. Llior and Will tied the knot at the beautiful Soughton Hall in Northop, in North Wales. The house and grounds look incredible, particularly the grandeur of the old gates and turrets. I'm loving all of the 1920's wedding details, from the bridesmaids' cute lace gloves and feather fascinators, to the vintage transport {cute car!} and Llior's elegant wedding dress, which she designed herself! Also love the idea to bring in the 'Something Blue' tradition with the bridesmaids' hydrangea bouquets and the ribbon on Llior's garter. Tonnes more wedding inspiration as you scroll through the pictures - Llior has very kindly filled in Before the Big Day's Bride's Questionnaire, so you can be sure to snaffle all her wedding inspiration. Huge thanks to Victoria Phipps Photography for these beautiful pictures - don't miss the reception shots, which I'll publish later this afternoon.

My original plan was to wear a wedding dress that I had made on my career break trip around the world. But when I tried it on when I arrived home, it didn't feel that special anymore. Plus my mother missed out on all that first bridal fuss, and the experience of seeing your daughter in her wedding dress for the first time. So we both decided to start from scratch with my own wedding dress design.

We set off around local fabric stores looking for a seamstress. We found a fab local lady and she interperated my wedding dress design and thoughts so beautifully, it was amazing. From week to week the dress just transformed, there was a lot of 'let's let the fabric speak to us moments'. My mother and I pinned the veil together on the morning of the wedding {something to do at 6am when you cant sleep for nerves}, so it was very much a DIY project for the two of us.

For my bridesmaids we chose the dresses and shoes from a mish-mash of small boutiques in London, plus lovely Coast faux-fur maroon shrugs.

We chose Fresh Floral Design in Chester for our wedding flowers. I had a bouquet of white roses, and we picked blue hydrangeas for my beautiful bridesmaids. The table flowers were a combination of white Peonies, white roses and white hydrangeas.

We wanted our wedding to be simple and elegant, with a 1920's vintage theme. Our main aim was to create fabulous lasting memories.

Will had his wedding suit made at King & Alan Tailors in Wimslow. {It all went a bit wrong though. He was meant to have a round collar and cuff shirt, and a full fabric tailored three-buttoned waistcoat, but these didn't come about because they forgot!}.

Victoria Phipps was our wedding photographer. I saw her pictures advertised in a wedding magazine and I loved her style. A few months prior to the wedding we had a lovely engagement shoot in London with her, which was a great way to get us relaxed before the big day. Victoria's pictures are so timeless and I like her easy and beautiful approach to wedding photography.

♥ Want more spring wedding ideas? ♥ Or how about vintage wedding ideas? ♥

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Real Winter Wonderland Wedding: Allison & Charlie

This wedding is a true inspiration for those of you getting married in the winter, but want to say your vows in natural light. Allison and Charlie made the most of a beautiful February day, hosting their reception in a clear marquee, surrounded by a magical indoor 'forest' of silver birch and blossom. Both Allison and Charlie are keen animal-lovers, and actual creatures played a huge part in the theming of this big day. From baby chicks, to birds-eggs and donkeys plus Allison's white horse, this wedding was totally at one with the natural world. I'm loving Allison's style - her stunning dress and fake-fur-lined boots go to show that you don't have to compromise on cool if you're getting married in the cold. Huge thanks to Our Labour of Love for these exquisite photos.

♥ Want more winter wedding ideas? ♥ Or how about rural wedding ideas? ♥

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Introducing Girls of Elegance for Affordable Wedding Accessories

When I was planning for my wedding, I often wished there was just one street in London for wedding shops, so I could sort everything out in one go. Instead I rushed backwards and forwards across town, squeezing in wedding tasks in-between work and wedding blogging. If only I'd heard about Girls of Elegance. This fantastic one stop shop for wedding shoes, bridesmaid dresses and bridesmaid shoes, stocks all the best bridal suppliers, including Charlotte Balbier.

Established over eight years ago, Girls of Elegance also offers hard-to-find services like wedding shoe and handbag dyeing, so you can be sure your bridesmaids' accessories match your wedding colour scheme. Just take a look at their affordable bridesmaid dresses in a rainbow of colours. I'd be tempted to dress each of my girls in a different shade!

They also stock Charlotte Balbier hair accessories and wedding gowns, along with over 125 styles of wedding shoes, including Rainbow Club, Paradox of London, Filippa Scott and Belle in their new showroom in Poole, in Dorset. I love these Rosebud shoes, only £65 with 40% off right now.

But my favourite find of all has to be the limited edition Just Married Ugg boots. They look soooo comfortable, and under a full-length wedding gown, no one needs to know what you're wearing on your feet! Check out the Girls of Elegance website before they sell out!

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Pronovias Wedding Dress Sample Sale

Prepare yourselves for a big one! Top wedding dress boutique Pronovias, is hosting a huge sample sale on Saturday 16th of June. With 75% off on selected sample gowns, it's your chance to save a fortune on your wedding dress! With two venues - Harrods and their store at 94 New Bond Street, you'll want to get your name down fast, so you can be first in the door. Appointment only, book online here.

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Reasonable But Dreamy Vintage-Style Wedding Dresses

Finding reasonably-priced wedding dresses is incredibly difficult, which is why I'm so excited to introduce you to Belle & Bunty. This gorgeous duo make dreamy, vintage-style wedding gowns, without the crazy price tags brides have {unfortunately} come to expect. Every dress is elegant and flowing, with beautiful dipped backs, and discreet luxurious embellishments. With ten wedding dress styles to choose from, you're sure to find a gown that works for you. Beautiful shoot pictures by Media Light Bulb.

♥ Want more wedding dress ideas? ♥ Or how about autumn wedding ideas? ♥

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Designer Wedding Maps & More

Worried about your guests getting lost en route to your wedding? Or just planning a destination wedding and want to have a bit of fun with the Save the Dates? Try these gorgeous mini-works of art by Couture Maps. For $400, Stephannie Barba will draw a bespoke design, with as many of those cute icons as you like. You can then use the map on invitations, welcome bags, napkins, tablecloths, favours....you get the idea. Stephannie also designs wedding stationery, so if you're looking for a one-stop-shop, she's your girl!

♥ Want more shabby-chic themed weddings? ♥ Or how about destination wedding ideas? ♥

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